James Knightly, 20, will be required to have anger-management counseling.
By Gail Geraghty
Staff Writer

PARIS – James Knightly was sentenced to spend the next 16 months in jail for leading police on a high-speed chase in April that seriously injured Bethel Police Chief Darren Tripp.

Knightly was given a five-year sentence, with all but 16 months suspended, and four years’ probation after pleading guilty Monday in Oxford County Superior Court to charges of reckless conduct and passing a roadblock.

He also received a 30-day concurrent sentence for operating after suspension of his driver’s license.

Didn’t pull over

Knightly, 20, of Bryant Pond, was only a few weeks away from getting his license back last April when a policeman spotted him driving a Ford Ranger pickup truck after suspension on High Street in West Paris.

Instead of pulling over when Oxford County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Landis made a U-turn and hit the blue lights, Knightly led Landis and other policemen on a 28-mile high-speed chase on April 23, with speeds nearing 90 miles an hour.

Knightly drove around three sets of spike mats, which had been laid down at various locations in Paris and West Paris as the chase progressed. As he drove around the third set of mats on Route 26 in Bryant Pond, he came close to hitting Tripp, who suffered a serious knee injury when he dove backwards to get out of the way.

On Monday, Knightly, 20, of Bryant Pond, faced not only a charge of operating after suspension, but also two felony charges: passing a police roadblock and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon.

Knight’s attorney, John Jenness, told Judge Thomas Humphrey that Tripp had suggested Knightly be required to undergo anger management counseling as one of the terms of his probation.

Humphrey agreed to this. The judge also added conditions that Knightly abstain from any drinking or illegal drugs, undergo random testing for both, and submit to substance abuse counseling as well.

Knightly was also required to pay a $60 fine.

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